• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Creative Announces Sound Blaster Katana V2 Gaming Soundbar

Joined
Mar 31, 2020
Messages
1,519 (1.02/day)
Creative Technology today announced the release of Sound Blaster Katana V2, the successor to the original Sound BlasterX Katana which had been regarded by many as the definitive gaming soundbar. Completely redesigned with an all-new sleek form factor, it delivers 68% more power than before, features improved audio dynamics and transforms the headphone experience with Super X-Fi Headphone Holography - this new Katana is a menacing weapon for desktop and console gamers alike.

The Sound Blaster Katana V2 personifies the culmination of Creative's best audio technologies as it brings games and movies to life through its 5.1 channel playback. Delivering the sound signature of a high-end Sound Blaster, built with more than 30 years of audio processing expertise, it retains the acclaimed tri-amplified design of its predecessor, where each of its 5 drivers is powered individually by Creative's proprietary multi-core DSP controller. The audio quality is enhanced further through improved fabric dome tweeters for cleaner and more refined highs, and a larger, more imposing subwoofer for deeper yet impactful bass performance.





For users who prefer to shut out the world or battle away late into the night without disturbing others, Super X-Fi Headphone Holography, a multiple award-winning technology which recreates the soundstage of a high-end multi-speaker system in headphones, is the compelling solution. Built into the Sound Blaster Katana V2 with the integrated Super X-Fi UltraDSP chip, users will experience holographic audio that is personalized according to how they hear sound, and enjoy an unprecedented level of realism as they fully immerse themselves in a movie, or dive right into the gaming battlefield.

Enemy-spotting gets easier than ever before - with SXFI BATTLE Mode, a sound mode which is specially designed to give FPS gamers an unprecedented edge in enhanced audio cues, both for directionality and distance. There is also Scout Mode, a familiar Sound Blaster feature which focuses on sound detection so that opponents are heard before they are seen moving on screen.

With an integrated Dolby Audio decoder, users get to enjoy the cinematic experience not just while gaming, but also while movie-binging on streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime.

All-in-One Audio Hub

The Sound Blaster Katana V2 can be customized to sound and look just the way users like it. When connected to the Creative app (both desktop and mobile), users can choose from various EQ settings and tune the audio with the Acoustic Engine suite. Furthermore, the redesigned RGB lighting strip features various illumination mode selections across 16.8 million colors, which intuitively reactive to the playback content. These settings can be saved as customized profiles on either the app or the programmable buttons on the remote control.

It is comprehensively decked out with a multitude of connectivity options, with HDMI ARC and optical ports, wireless Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C port for USB audio support, 3.5 mm AUX-in and SXFI-out for certified Super X-Fi products. It is compatible with desktops and consoles alike, including PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

All in all, the Sound Blaster Katana V2 provides a complete entertainment experience which transcends beyond what is expected of a gaming soundbar.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster Katana V2 is priced at S$479 and is available at Creative.com.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
3,458 (0.71/day)
Processor AMD 5900x
Motherboard Asus x570 Strix-E
Cooling Hardware Labs
Memory G.Skill 4000c17 2x16gb
Video Card(s) RTX 3090
Storage Sabrent
Display(s) Samsung G9
Case Phanteks 719
Audio Device(s) Fiio K5 Pro
Power Supply EVGA 1000 P2
Mouse Logitech G600
Keyboard Corsair K95
Gaming + Soundbar = :laugh:
 
Joined
Jan 25, 2020
Messages
2,011 (1.29/day)
System Name DadsBadAss
Processor I7 13700k w/ HEATKILLER IV PRO Copper Nickel
Motherboard MSI Z790 Tomahawk Wifi DDR4
Cooling BarrowCH Boxfish 200mm-HWLabs SR2 420/GTX&GTS 360-BP Dual D5 MOD TOP- 2x Koolance PMP 450S
Memory 4x8gb HyperX Predator RGB DDR4 4000
Video Card(s) Asrock 6800xt PG D w/ Byski A-AR6900XT-X
Storage WD SN850x 1TB NVME M.2/Adata XPG SX8200 PRO 1TB NVMe M.2
Display(s) Acer XG270HU
Case ThermalTake X71 w/5 Noctua NF-A14 2000 IP67 PWM/3 Noctua NF-F12 2000 IP67 PWM/3 CorsairML120 Pro RGB
Audio Device(s) Klipsch Promedia 2.1
Power Supply Seasonic Focus PX-850 w/CableMod PRO ModMesh RT-Series Black/Blue
Mouse Logitech G502
Keyboard Black Aluminun Mechanical Clicky Thing With Blue LEDs, hows that for a name?!
Software Win11pro
Cough, cough $479, Is it made of platinum and gold?!
 
Joined
Nov 12, 2020
Messages
139 (0.11/day)
Processor I7-6900K @ 4.2ghz 8c/4.3ghz 2c
Motherboard GA-X99-Ultra Gaming
Cooling Liquid Freezer II 240
Memory 32GB G.Skill @ 3200 15-17-17-34
Video Card(s) RTX 3080 12GB FTW3 Ultra Hybrid
Storage 1TB P31 NVMe and 2x 1TB S31 SATA
Display(s) CU34G2X and Ea244wmi
Case 5000D Airflow
Audio Device(s) Sound Blaster X4
Power Supply SuperNOVA 850 G+
Mouse G502 HERO/G700s
Keyboard Ducky Shine
Curious if it's better at filling a room than the first iteration given the extra power as it was already one of the best small soundbars available.

Cough, cough $479, Is it made of platinum and gold?!
FWIW it's $329 USD, so +$30 over the list price on the Sound BlasterX Katana.
 
Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
20,953 (5.97/day)
Location
The Washing Machine
Processor i7 8700k 4.6Ghz @ 1.24V
Motherboard AsRock Fatal1ty K6 Z370
Cooling beQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 3
Memory 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200/C16
Video Card(s) ASRock RX7900XT Phantom Gaming
Storage Samsung 850 EVO 1TB + Samsung 830 256GB + Crucial BX100 250GB + Toshiba 1TB HDD
Display(s) Gigabyte G34QWC (3440x1440)
Case Fractal Design Define R5
Audio Device(s) Harman Kardon AVR137 + 2.1
Power Supply EVGA Supernova G2 750W
Mouse XTRFY M42
Keyboard Lenovo Thinkpad Trackpoint II
Software W10 x64
Joined
Apr 15, 2021
Messages
852 (0.77/day)
I don't mind having rgb in my case, but devices that are typically going to be in front of me(i.e. speakers, monitors, etc.) is where I draw the line.
 
Joined
Jul 10, 2018
Messages
222 (0.10/day)
Not sure why they added ARC since the bar doesn't support Dolby Atmos. And none of their current Sound Cards have HDMI ARC connections either.
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2018
Messages
818 (0.39/day)
System Name Dell Inspiron 7375
Processor AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700U Mobile Processor with Radeon™ RX Vega 10 Graphics
Memory 16GB (total) 2400MHz DDR4 SODIMM
Video Card(s) Radeon™ RX Vega 10 Graphics
Storage SanDisk X600 SATA SSD 512GB
Display(s) BOE NV13FHM
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC3253 (Dell Labelling) ALC255 (Real name)
Not sure why they added ARC since the bar doesn't support Dolby Atmos. And none of their current Sound Cards have HDMI ARC connections either.
ARC is not only for Atmos, it is useful in playing TV audio (usual soundbar stuff), and there also is Dolby Digital support.
The SXFI Carrier soundbar do even support Atmos.
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
943 (0.47/day)
Too much software these days.even for a speaker, mouse, keyboard you need to install a software.
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
1,162 (0.22/day)
Location
Chicago, Illinois
I'm sad. Sound Blaster was so awesome 30 years ago lol.
 

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman
Joined
Jul 2, 2007
Messages
40,435 (6.58/day)
Location
Republic of Texas (True Patriot)
System Name PCGOD
Processor AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory 16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s) NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s) Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software Windows 7 Pro 64
Sound bars are laziness
 
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
3,458 (0.71/day)
Processor AMD 5900x
Motherboard Asus x570 Strix-E
Cooling Hardware Labs
Memory G.Skill 4000c17 2x16gb
Video Card(s) RTX 3090
Storage Sabrent
Display(s) Samsung G9
Case Phanteks 719
Audio Device(s) Fiio K5 Pro
Power Supply EVGA 1000 P2
Mouse Logitech G600
Keyboard Corsair K95
Lmao!

a larger, more imposing subwoofer for deeper yet impactful bass performance.

Ugh... they went with a 6.5" size from the previous 5.25" size.

This is a toy. An Energy ESW-M6 would not be a toy with its 6.5" driver, elliptical suspension and dual passive radiators which nearly equates to a 12" driver for surface area would be considered the best 6.5" sub and even it is a serious compromise. The marketing crap from Creative is downright ridiculous.

Edit, just remembered the stock woofers in the doors of my tesla are larger than this sub lol.
 
Top